The National tribune., 1887-06-23


our men could not stand, and back they would
come, followed by the mounted men. After
while Capt Maxwell came up with his squad
ron, that had been on duty on some other part
of the line. Custer sent him up the road. with
the same success. When this business had been
going on about 20 minutes the Ist VT Cav.
came up, dismounted. deplOyed across the
marsh on the south side OF the road. The bot
tom was marshy south Of the road and impas-
sable for horses, but north Of the road horses
could 90 anywhere. The enemy withdrew
Immediately when the Ist Vt. assembled the
opposide bank, and we followed them to the
main branch Of the Chiekahominy. where they
had taken mp very strong position. and as
they were doing Us no harm, Gen. Sheridan
concluded to move on.
The enemy's left rested on the Telegraph
road on the north bask Of one Of the branches
OF the Chickahominy, across which, and
across the road TO the high ground, they had
placed two guns without any supports what
ever. Custer, in contemplating the capture Of
the guns, arranged to have a vigorous attack
made along the whole front to prevent the ene-
my sending aid from any part of the line to his
left The whole left of the enemy's line had
been forced back during his onslaught. Our regi-
ment, to reach the position of the guns had to go
considerably more than half mile. During
this time the enemy's line was pushed back,
aud / believe Dorsey's dismounted squadron,
the left OF the Confederate line, had not reached
its position when we got the guns. The left,
next the road, was not more than 80 rods from
where the guns stood, and at that time there
was nothing in those woods to oppose them. IL
they had been in position they would have been
at liberty to defend the guns, which would have
made it a sore job for US.
McNulty says that on reaching the creek at
the base of the bank opposite us he saw
Stuart. surrounded by not more than 80 men.
These 80 men were not Dorsey's men, but the
Generals staff, couriers, escort, and such in
dividuals rs are always passing to and fro on
battlefield, and with these Stuart charged
across the creek bottom, following Decker and
his men to a point where converging column
approached. These were Decker's men, who
had formed line in the woods across the road
from where the battery had stood. The fire of
this converging column and those " who had
taken the guns was severe" and they fell back.
Decker and his men followed them up the hill
until opposite the dismOunted line of Dorsey's,
that had by this time got into place, and they
had to 60 back, Stuart's squad holding the
top of the hill-another hill, from IL to 20
rods north of the creek bank.
BY this time the two mounted squadrons Of
the Ist Virginia had taken position on the south
side of another small branch, aud Maj. Breathed
said, as quoted from Coiners narrative, " Gen.
Stuart, two mounted squadrons can recapturemy
the column moved up through the sunken
road bed, but with Stuart at its head on the gh
bank beside the road. Having passed over the
hill, while descending the south slope Capt.
Hammond, at the head of the charging
column, fell from his horse, killed. The stu
alton was appalling. There, in full view,
were at least 400 of our men within 60 rods,
and their number. although unknown TO US, was
very we'll understood by them, and the knowl-
| edge that what few of them were there had
been hurried from another part of their line
that was constantly being forced, made the
situation most unpromising. NOtwithstand-
ing this, the 1st Va. Cav, Stuart's pride,
to whom he trusted everything. now, in spite
of his personal heroiSm and his entreaties,
left him to go down to the dismounted line.
Col. Town once told Gen. Fitzpatrick that in
one company of his regiment-Co. L, Decker's
every man was qualified to command bri-
gade. Some might doubt it, but when they
saw the faltering of the ConfedeFates, with q
yell they charged up the narrow road once
more and the Confederates fed. Is it doubted
that many of them passed the position Of the
dead-line Of dismounted COufederates in their
eagerneSS to pursue the fleeing enemy? Can
Lieut. Coiner doubt that Capt. Dorsey would
protect the person of his chief when deserted
by the men of whom he expected the most
Can anybody doubt the opportunity of Capt
! Dorsey? Maj. MeNulty's story of moving back,
even with the position of the guns, IS cOrrObO-
rated by many of our comrades, who assert that
they stood on the bank and fired down onto
the COnfederateS as they stood in the road.
My notes say, ave poured into them at from
six to 30 rods" Gen. Stuart went back after
that aud ordered the mounted squadrOns to
charge. Lieut.. Coiner says at the instant they
had formed they were ordered TO charge, and
| they only reached the top of the hill. The
next they saw of their chieftain he came back
over the hill, wounded and no doubt had not
| Capt. Dorsey's dismounted line been there Gen.
Stuart would have fallen into the hands Of the
1st Mich. Cav, the only troops on that side OF
the woods az that time.
The following is taken from page 40 of the
| February number of the Southern Historical
/ Society Papers:
DR. Brewer the brother -in-law of Gen. Stuart
/ has furnished with some particulars obtained
/ from the Generals own lips Of the manner in
/ which he came by his wound. He had formed q
/ line of skiFmishers near the Yellow Tavern, when
/ seeing brigade preparing to charge ON his leit,
/ Gen. stuart, with his staff and few men, dashed
down the line to form troops to repel the charge.
/ About this time the Yankees came laundering
/ down upon the General and his small escort
/ Twelve shots were fired at the General at short
J wellknown person. The General wheeled upon
them with the natural bravery which had
| always characterized him, and discharged six
shots from his revolver at his assailants The
] last of the IL shots fired at him struck the
/ General in the left side of the stomach. lie
| did not fall, knowing he would be captured il
| he did. and nerving himself in his seat, wheeled
his horses head and rode for the protection of his
/ lines. Before he reached them his wound over
came him and he fell or WAS helped from his saddle
by of his eyeF-fIithfu troopers and carried To
place Of security. Subsequently he was brought %
/ Richmond in ambulance. The immediate
cause OF death was modification of the stomach in
4 duced by the flow of blood from the kidneys and
i intestines into the cavity of the stomach Gen
Stuart died at the residence of his brother-in-aw
/ DIR. Brewer, in Richmond.
Does anybody doubt the regiment that in
/ nicteh tha mnrtnl wnnnd of Cen Stncrt2